Albuquerque - Food Truck

Europa Roaming Kitchen: tasty food and friendly people. Could you ask for more than that? They serve paninis, gyros and a rotating menu of European treats you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the city. Check them out at La Cumbre and Red Door Brewing, or hire them to cater your event. Follow them on Facebook to see where they’ll show up next.

Soo Bak Food Truck’s tag line reads: “Korean Seoul Food”—an apt description of the innovative fusion of traditional Korean and New Mexican cuisine apparent in the dishes. You can get adventurous with the Korean chile cheese fries or stick with classic and deliciously light kimchi and rice. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will be pleased with the fresh mandu (veggie dumplings) or daeji bulgogi (spicy pork) tacos.

Certainly the place is small (though not as small as the Dog House, only about 10 blocks to the east) but it is amazingly bright and sparkly; most of all it is authentic; clothed in the red and golden tropes of Chinese-American culture that adds a rich texture to the American casual dining experience. Each plate’s presentation is simple yet pleasing—such as the sesame chicken, coated in a dark, luxurious sauce that features scattered snowpeas and is abundantly sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Winner of Best Casual Dining, Best Veggie Burger, Best Toast, Best Healthy Breakfast and Best Desserts in our restaurant polls. Sure, you go in thinking you’ll be good and get a skinny latte, scrambled egg whites and a side of turkey and green chile sausage, but five minutes later somebody’s saying “eclair” and the voice is coming from your mouth. But, boy, do they taste good.

Whether you’re a certified sushi lover or have never tried the stuff before, Ichiban can make you a roll you’ll love. Heck, they even make vegetarian rolls that aren’t half bad. Their lunch specials are a reasonably-priced way to try several different things on the menu at once. Ask the server to recommend some sake and make sure you try the yellowtail roll.

Il Vicino’s thin-crusted, gourmet-topped pizzas are perennial favorites among Alibi readers, but the big salads are equally popular. Order at the register and a server brings the food to your table, making weekday lunches speedy. The open kitchen gives you something to stare at while you wait. Stop in for a quick lunch or a late afternoon microbrew on the patio.

Little Anita's menu is New Mexican to the core with enchiladas, burritos, carne adovada and stuffed sopaipillas. The red chile is generally milder than their green but is seasoned just right. Consistency, generous portions and fair prices make Little Anita's an Albuquerque mainstay—not to mention its many locations ranging from full-service dining to quick and easy take-out counters. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Satellite serves up not only coffee but also burritos, sandwiches, desserts and pastries. This is a good choice if you need a quick pick-me-up or you’re hungry late--it’s open until at least 9pm most nights. We recommend the black velvet which is a vanilla coffee with five shots of espresso.

At the crossroads of the far North Valley and the Westside sits Thai Kitchen. From the outside looking in, hanging out at the end of an average-looking strip mall, it’s an easy place to overlook. That would be a mistake. The egg rolls are top-notch, and the spicy Jungle noodles with beef are out of this world! We highly recommend that you go and thai something new at this warm little joint.

Al’s still serves a hefty menu of inspired hot and cold sandwiches. There’s an emphasis on homemade touches, from the sweet onion jam on the roast beef sandwich to the cookie that comes with every order. Good salads, daily made-from-scratch soups and a new sandwich special every day keep the lunch crowd on its toes.

Dim sum and sushi under the same roof? It's like a dream come true. The beautiful interior of the antique filling station just east of the federal courthouse is a marked change from the cozy home interior of where AmerAsia used to reside near the university. Hyangami Yi's food is just as good as ever. Expect her familiar dim sum plates and buns, and feel free to order sushi like you've never had in this town from her brother Woo Youn. He's got all the usual sashimi and nigiri in his adjoining restaurant, but it's the original, creative rolls that really set Sumo apart—that, and the adorable little train that ferries your pickled ginger around the sushi bar.

A lengthy menu boasts down-home Turkish and Mediterranean eats. Not only is the staff friendly, but also extremely knowledgeable and excited to share their opinions of the best dishes. With a variety of meat and vegetarian dishes, anyone can leave this local gem totally satisfied.

It only makes sense to order the steamed artichoke at the Artichoke Café. Slathered in lemon-caper oil and a raspberry vinaigrette, it makes a great starter before trying a more hefty order of grilled curried chicken or sliced steak. Once your lunch or dinner at the upscale Artichoke Café has concluded, you’ve got to adjourn to the sexy wine bar next door. The wine list is actually a leather-bound tome with a massive assortment of wines. Prices start at a decent $28 or $30 a bottle and zoom up into the upper stratospheres of frivolity, but you can also order select vintages by the half-bottle or glass. You'll love the front-facing "big city" windows, curvy wooden bar and comfortable seats.

This is the spot for satisfying pre- or post-movie cravings with a menu that stretches across the Asian continent. Think pho and pad Thai with a side of Japanese cold sesame noodles. The warming Thai soup is restorative on chilly days. Inside, it’s clean, classy, calm and open until 11pm on the weekends.

With everything all shiny and new, you may be overwhelmed upon entry but let the friendly, understanding staff guide you to your table and your soon to be slice of heaven. While the menu is a bit on the small side, all dishes are executed to perfection. While you wait, watch the game or play a game—board games, that is! With all the hubbub around Downtown at night, this is definitely a chill place to escape for a drink or two.